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Interview with Jenn O'Connor - Crank Brothers Sponsored Rider |
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One of our sponsored riders Jenn O’Connor has been riding and winning races on Crank Brothers pedals for nearly 2 years now.
Usually spotted on podiums holding aloft a medal or trophy she combines a full time job with a formidable race and training calendar.
She took some time out to answer some questions I had for her and here they are:
1. What makes you get up in the morning and train/race. Is it the
winning or the doing?
It's definitely the winning. There are people who like to train for training's sake, because they enjoy the process of improving their fitness and skills etc, but for me it's about being a competitor. If I wasn't competing, I'd still ride my bike for fun, but I wouldn't train in any formal way. I love to race, and that's what keeps me churning out the miles.
2. How important is 'the bike' to what you do? I.E. does it matter
what bike you ride presuming its broadly the same spec? Can you make it work?
For me, very important because I need a bike that is competitive for a 2-hour XC race right through to 24 hour solo. The other big problem is my size - I'm only 5'1", so all the standard "Small" sizes are too big for me, and the female-specific offerings from the big-name brands just aren't race bikes. Now I have a custom-built Endorfin VP-4 Lady, and it's the ultimate tiny race bike. It's full sus, so we've really had to work to get the weight down below the 10kg mark, but it's been worth it.
3. Cadburys or Galaxy?
Neither. Dark chocolate only, at least 80%. Anything less and it's not worth the calories.
4. How many products do you try before you decide on what to use - is
it a case of seeing what looks nice and then working with it?
I've been racing for a fair few years on different bikes using different equipment, and I know what I need now, otherwise, feedback from other racers is a good gauge. People think sponsored riders just use what they're given, but it doesn't work like that for me. My equipment standards are extremely high, and I'd rather pay full retail for the right piece of kit than take something off a sponsor that isn't up to the task. I decide what I want to use, then approach companies for sponsorship, never the other way around.
5. What goes through your mind on race day morning?
I'm strong. I'm fast. I'm going to rip the legs off everyone.
Repeat until the race is over.
6. What goes through your mind when you crash or puncture?
Find the problem, fix the problem. I run tubeless with sealant, which works pretty well. Mostly I try not to crash.
7. How do you find time when you work full time to train and compete?
You have to reverse your mindset about what you have time for. If I only ever did the things I had time to do, I wouldn't train, or race, or manage a team. It's about deciding that those are the things you want to do and then making the time. I commute to work and back on my road bike, which is about 15 miles each way, and I add on the intervals or extra miles on the return trip, so I generally do 2-3 hours a day on the bike during the week. Weekends I do nothing but ride, sleep and eat. The flat is always a mess, but I have my priorities.
8. Do you have a 'staff' of helpers and mechanics?
Yes! His name is Andy Patterson, he's my partner, coach, team-mate, mechanic and feed zone assistant. He's pretty quick on a bike, too.
9. Lavazza or Illy?
Either is good - as long as it's strong, black and freshly brewed. And plentiful!
10. What advantage do Crank Brothers pedals have for you over other
pedals?
They're light and they always work. That's pretty much everything I need from a pedal. We had horrendous conditions at Mayhem last year, and my bike was plastered in so much mud I couldn't even see my pedals, but somehow I still managed to clip in. It's such a simple design.
11. If you could have any colour grip then what would it be?
Right now, pink! I never thought it would happen but the VP-4 has a load of pink kit on it now and it looks brilliant. It has to be a nice, dense rubber grip (foam gives me the heebie jeebies). I use Lizard Skins Moabs at the moment.
12. Is there one piece of advice you could give to aspiring racers?
Keep your head down and keep training. It's not supposed to be easy.
Take a look at http://www.pattersontraining.com/Race_Team.htm for more info on Jenn and Andy and what races you will see them at in 2008.
Interview with Jenn O'Connor - Crank Brothers Sponsored Rider
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